How many of you have a passion for anything chocolate? Probably quite a few of you I would say. So Easter is going to be a particular challenge for you.
We all associate Easter with chocolate but there are also other temptations in our way around that time too:-
- 4 day weekend
- Easter Eggs
- Lamb dinners
- Hot Cross Buns
- Easter Egg hunts with the kids
- Weekend activities
- Family get together’s
- Work goodies
So basically you are doomed right? Not necessarily. The key is to plan ahead!
4 Day Weekend
We all know that the weekend can be our biggest weakness and now we have just doubled it! Make a plan for each day. Consider what things could get in the way? Are you taking the kids out? If so, rather than take away burger and chips, could you take a picnic, have a larger healthier breakfast before you go, or pack your own little bag full of fruit and healthy snacks.
If this includes activities that mean you will be surrounded by lots of sugar like an Easter egg hunt, take something sweet with you that is lower in syns like a hifi bar, fruit or check your Slimming World App to see what syns are in it before popping in your mouth! It may be that you can still have it, you just need to plan it in.
A lot of us use the long weekend to catch up with family which will involve either a sit down meal or buffet! Don’t be afraid to speak to the person preparing the meal to ask for Slimming World friendly options. Offer to bring some things along or offer to help. I know when I do a roast for the family, whilst my husband and father want the good old fashion traditional roasted potatoes, my mum would prefer my SW friendly ones! You will be surprised that suddenly others around the table will head for your healthier options!
If you are eating out, check the menu on-line. If you can’t see anything call them. Most restaurants will be happy to come up with alternatives for you. If you order in advance, its also easier than having to try and explain what you want on the day with all the other guests trying to get their orders in.
Devil Food
So you have managed to find your way around what to do at the weekend for food, but there is still this problem with the amount of Easter Eggs, hot cross buns and sugary goodies that will be in your face for the days before, during and after Easter! How do you cope? Simple – you take control!
Slimming World is not a diet! Its a healthy way of life! Nothing is out of bounds, you just have to plan, measure and enjoy!
Easter Eggs
First question. How many syns are in your Easter eggs? Don’t know? Well that will be your first mistake! You will be surprised how much is in the smallest of eggs. Here is an example:-
How many of you were shocked when they saw the total syns? Can you see why its so important to know the value before you even go anywhere near them! It doesn’t mean you can’t have them though. You just need to plan. Get yourself some little food bags and a set of scales. For instance the shell is 54 syns for 200 g so if you weighed out 50 g into 4 bags you would have 13.5 syns worth of treats. You can have up to 15 syns a day, so as long as you don’t sneak another extra piece in, you will still be within your daily syn allowance. It sounds a bit of a pain doing this, but you will be so pleased you did the next time you step on those scales.
If family and friends want to buy you something for Easter, ask for something else other than an egg? Maybe fruit or flowers? If you want something sweet,think about your current treats. Would they be a better option, such as bags of mini sized chocolate or wine gums? Even the hifi bars.
Here are some ideas:
Cadbury Creme Egg – 40 g 9 Syns
Cadbury Mini Creme Egg (89g bag each) – 2.5 Syns
Cadbury Curly Wurly (14g treat) – 3 Syns
Cadbury Curly Wurly (26g bar) – 6 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar (15g treat) – 4 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Milk Bar (6g miniature heroes) – 1.5 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Mini Eggs (25g bag) – 6.5 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut (49g bar) – 12.5 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Milk Fruit & Nut 120g bar (each chunk) – 1.5 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Chocolate Buttons (14.4g) – 4 Syns
Cadbury Dairy Chocolate Buttons (30g) – 8 Syns
Cadbury Egg n Spoon, 4 pack (34g each) – 9.5 Syns
Cadbury Flake (14g treat) – 4 Syns
Cadbury Flake (20g multipack) – 5.5 Syns
Freddo (18g bar) – 5 Syns
Fudge (13.5g treat) – 3 Syns
Fudge (25.5g bar) – 5.5 Syns
Cadbury Milk Chocolate Fingers (each) – 1.5 Syns
Cadbury Milk Tray Assortment (each) – 2.5 Syns
Cadbury Mini Eggs (25g) – 6 Syns
Cadbury Mini Eggs (each) – 1 Syns
Cadbury Roses Assortment, (each)- 2.5 – 3 syns
Mars Celebrations – All varieties, (each) – 2 syns
Time Out Wafer (21.2g bar) – 5.5 Syns
Twirl (14g treat) – 3.5 Syns
Twirl (21.5g finger) – 6 Syns
Twirl Bites (25g) – 6.5 Syns
Wispa Bar (25.5g bar) – 7 Syns
Haribo Starmix (each) 0.5 Syns
Haribo Starmix (16g bag) – 25 Syns
Haribo Sweets – all varieties except Pinballs & Jelly Beans (25g bag) 4.5 syns
Hot Cross Buns
You can just taste them, warm oozing with melted butter on them right? They are a massive temptation. I am not really that bothered about chocolate by oh Hot Cross Buns! Thankfully I don’t like butter either, but that doesn’t make me a saint. Before starting Slimming World I didn’t really think about the calorie content and definitely not the syns. Again they can still be on the menu, you just have to know what you are having and plan them in!
Thankfully this year there are a huge variety of Hot Cross Buns in the supermarkets, in different sizes and flavours, which means you can choose how many syns you want to use on them.
Sainsburys pack of 6 – 70g – 10 syns
Tesco Mini pack of 8 – 32g – 4 syns
Marks & Spencer Mini Double Chocolate pack of 9 – 28g – 4.5 syns
Waitrose Mini Chocolate Orange pack of 9 – 32g – 5 syns
So if like me one is never enough, if you go for the mini options you can still have 2!
A word of caution. If you do like butter or jam on yours, remember to add those syns too!
Jam – 1 level teaspoon – 0.5 syns
Jam – 1 level tablespoon – 2 syns
Butter – 1 level teaspoon – 2 syns
Butter – 1 level tablespoon – 5.5 syns
Please be careful too that you are having level spoonfuls, otherwise you will seriously be kidding yourself about how many syns you are actually having!
So don’t deprive yourself of a treat over Easter. Just remember to plan and weigh!
Happy Easter.
Slimminginspirations4u 